Curtis



J. CURTIS.

Fifth Wheel.

No. 63,223. Patented M21126, 1867-.

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Be it known that 1, JOHN CURTIS, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wheel Carriages; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, v

This is an improvement in the construction of that classof wheel carriages whose body is supported on two (so'called) elliptical springs; and my invention consists, first, in the provision of two pieces of hickory or other tough and elastic wood, so formed and applied as to take the place of eight essential members of every spring vehicle of the customary construction, namely, the two sills, the two spring-bars, and the four body-loops or bent iron rods which serve to connect the body to the springbars. I Moreover, a carriage body formed and supported on my plan is perfectly flush and smooth underneath, and, with the exception of the two regular staybolts, free from any bolts, nuts, or bars or metal straps, which at present, besides forming a material part ofthe cost of a customary body, present unsightly projections, and add greatly to the weight, and are liable to work loose and rattle. In other words the said first part of my improvement consists essentially of a strip or strips of tough and elastic wood, bent into suitable form, hereinafter explained, and inserted in and forminga part of the body of the vehicle, and extending in a bowed or curved form in front of and behindit so as to be attached to the ordinary springs, and thus to dispense with those separately attached metallic portions neces= sarilynsc'd and known as body-loops, as well as with separate spring-bars, together with the numerous bolts (usually sixteen or eighteen in number) now required to secure the loops and the bars, and in addition to these advantages the said strips, from the nature of the material, afford a yielding or elastic connection between the body and the spring, so as to relieve a portion of thejar now wholly devolving upon the springs proper, and to increase the safetyand' durability, with a material-reduction of weight, cost of construction, and an improve= ment in appearance. 7

The second part of my invention consistsin the provision of a single strip of tough and stilt wood, so bent and attached. as to perform the functions of the ordinary double perch, and also those of the" upper member of the fifth wheel, and which .by the avoidance of any mortise in the head-block or piece connecting the fifth wheel with the fore spring, enables, said block, as well as the fifth wheel itself, to be made much lighter, simpler,'and more compactly, with equal or greater strength, and without the numerous bolts, clips, and other metallic appendages. 1

The third part of my invention consists in the provision of a guard-iron or stay, adapted to hold the upper and lower members of the fifth wheel together in such a manner as to prevent the rattling thereof, and to afford a means of rectifying at any moment the slackncss of these important members incident to the wear and tear, of ordinary use. I

Figure 1 is a perspective view, representing the body and carriage part detached, and with the addition of a transverse-section of one side of the body. I

Figure 2 isan underside perspective view of my combined fifth wheel and double perch, together with crossseetions of the guard-iron and accessories. v

The body A may be of customary construction, except that its sill-pieces are prolonged in front and rear beyond the body so as to form a stong, simple, and elastic connection with the front and rear springs respect.- ively. The said sill-pieces consist of two strips of hickory or other very. tough and elastic wood, bent into the form represented, their middle portions B taking the place and dischargingthe functions of the customary. spring-bars, and merging by easy curves 0 into straight portions, whose parts D, extending beyond the body, take the place and discharge the functions of body-loops, and in addition to those functions serve by their elas= ticity to relieve the springs proper of a portion of their resilient duty, and whose parts E, being scarfed together atF, and traversed at said scarf by the ordinary stay-bolts G, form that portion of the carriage body known as the sills. Gains H, in the edges of the parts E, receive the tenons of the uprights I. The portions B are secured to the springs J by customary clips Kv v The second part of my invention is as follows: Inplace of a single perch with stay-braces, or of two sep arate perchcsmortisedinto and weakening the head-block and necessitating a distinct metallic 'ring and its accessories forthe upper member of the fifth wheel, I provide a single strip of. tough timber, whose middle portion L is bent to a'semicirele, and rebated, l, to take the metallic lower portion M of the fifth wheel, (which portion may be either of the represented 0 form, as in the illustration, or circular,) and Whose side portions N N diverge rearwardly and are mortised into or otherwise firmly fastened'to the hind axle. The head-block T, instead of being mortised (and thereby weakened) to receive the front'endsof the perches, is simply fastened to the upper side of the strip where the curved portion L merges into' the straight portions N N. To enable 4 the two members of the fifth wheel to be set up as they wear, and to avoid all erratic or noisy movements thereof,

I have provided what I style a'stay or guard-iron, .0, consisting of a clip or strap, P, which embraces and is bolted or riveted or otherwise secured to the middle portion of the upper member L of the fifth wheel. A setscrew, Q, tapped within the strap P, pressesnpwarda gland, R, which is hollowed to correspond with the'convexi ty of the lower member M of the fifth wheel. A pad or cushion, S, of leather or caoutchonc or other touglf hnt flexible substance, is interposed between the gland R and the member M, and besides holding the two members snugly together prevents all rattling, &c., as before stated. The guard 0 may be used to set up the member M, either with or withoutthe pad S, and is applicable to every kind of wheel carriage where a fifth wheel is employed. Where the fifth wheel is circular, aswith the heavier description of carriages, the guard may be advantageously placed at the rear side of the circle. In case of the king-bolt breaking, the guard 0 will serve to hold the two members of the fifth wheel securely together, and thus prevent the serious casualties that sometimes arise from the giving way of this important bolt.

I claim herein as new, and of my'inve'ntion- 1. The bent strip 13 C D E, of elastic timber, forming the sills of the body proper, and to take the place of the spring-bar and body-loops, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The bent and rebatcd strip of timber L ZN N, discharging the functions of the double perch and of the upper member of the fifth wheel, as set forth.

3. The arrangement of strap P, screw Q, and gland R, to enable the members of a fifth wheel to be set up as they wear, in the manner explained. p

4. In the describedcombination with the elements of claim 3, I claim the pad or. cushion S for the ourpose stated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN CURTIS.

v Witnessesr G130. ll. KNIGHT, SAMUEL Knmnr. 

